Spoke with an NFL scout regarding early departures today.

I have a very good friend 15+ years that is an NFL scout here on the west coast. I am not about to name names or even team because I don't want this coming back to him in anyway because he told me things he doesn't want associated with his name. He is a good friend and I am going to respect that. So take this anyway you want, I don't really care just trying to bring some perspective to the board from someone who lives it.

After hearing about Montgomery, I called to ask him what are his and "the general perception" of the players coming out of LSU last year. He stated emphatically that around the circles in the NFL last years draft out of LSU is disappointing except for the few that were expected and projected to make an impact. He had high praise for Reid, Mingo & Mathieu and said Logan you could go either way but he puts it in the should have stayed another year.

The rest of the early entrants "including Minter" he said it would have been better if they would have stayed in school. He literally feels that each individual would have bettered their position at the end of this season including the un-drafted free agents.

He also stated that if it were his kid, relative or friend and they asked his advice "unless their position is RB" and they are an underclassmen, if they are NOT projected to go in the top 2 rounds he would do everything in his power to convince them to play out their eligibility. He did say there are exceptions to the rule and that is a generalization but it applies to 90% of the early entrants. He also stated that sports agents are absolutely killing some of these kids futures "and he did put blame on scouts also."

He went through the advantages of why to stay if your not a 1st our 2nd rounder, most of them are obvious but the one he harped on is continued game experience and knowledge of the game a simple statement he made was "the more you see, the smarter you get playing the game." He could not emphasize enough with the complexity of offenses and defenses now a days being a smart football player has almost as much to do with it as being a physical football player. Again he said that is a generalization and their are exceptions to everything, but knowledge of the game through experience is huge.

I won't bore you any further because most of this stuff is pretty apparent but hopefully Miles uses the disappointment from last years draft class so far in the NFL as incentive for the underclassmen to stay in school, both for the player and the school. I truly can't even imagine what the team would be like this year if the defense had not have been decimated from all the early departure that he felt should have stayed. He named Minter, Logan, Montgomery & Simon specifically. Again those are his opinions but he says that is pretty much the general thought around the league within the scouts.

re: Spoke with an NFL scout regarding early departures today.(Posted by saintsfan22 on 10/21/13 at 5:51 pm to Dudebro2)

quote:He stated emphatically that around the circles in the NFL last years draft out of LSU is disappointing except for the few that were expected and projected to make an impact

So they're disappointed in guys they didn't expect anything from.

quote:He also stated that if it were his kid, relative or friend and they asked his advice "unless their position is RB" and they are an underclassmen, if they are projected to go in the top 2 rounds he would do everything in his power to convince play out their eligibility.

That itself is probably a much different situation than most of these guys.

re: Spoke with an NFL scout regarding early departures today.(Posted by TigerBait1127 on 10/21/13 at 5:53 pm to Dudebro2)

you crack me up

quote: that around the circles in the NFL last years draft out of LSU is disappointing except for the few that were expected and projected to make an impact. He had high praise for Reid, Mingo & Mathieu and said Logan you could go either way but he puts it in the should have stayed another year.

so except for 4 defenders drafted, the draft was a disappointment. Read that again. Minter already graduated and was drafted 45th overall. He's making good money

re: Spoke with an NFL scout regarding early departures today.(Posted by H-Town Tiger on 10/21/13 at 5:59 pm to Dudebro2)

A lot of that makes sense espeically from a scout's point of view. But it is no skin off his nose if a guy gets hurt for example. He also might not play as well and drop in the draft. A lot kids come from poor back grounds, staying in school is 1 year less of earnings. If you go back you'd have to move way up, make more than double for it to be worth the opprotunity cost of not getting paid this year.

Another thing I think that is over looked is half of the early entrants were 4 year players that had red shirted. Of Minter, Logan, Montgomery & Simon, all but Simon where 4 year players. Minter had already graduated it is doubtful he could have played better and he was a 2nd round pick anyway. Maybe he could improved with an extra year and maybe he blows out a knee, but he already has a degree so even if he does flame out in the NFL, he's covered there.

re: Spoke with an NFL scout regarding early departures today.(Posted by Dudebro2 on 10/21/13 at 5:59 pm to tiggah1981)

quote:What does he think about the juniors on the team now especially Welter

Well some of this stuff you aren't going to want to hear.

He said you can kiss OBJ, Landry & Hill goodbye, he thought it might be good for Collins "and he also said Hill" to stay but the others are gone. He didn't mention Welter, and I didn't bring him up. He said with Mett gone from eligibility he doesn't see how OBJ and Landry will improve their draft status. He said with Hill he usually would recommend leaving because of wear in tear of the position but he actually felt that if Hill had a great year next year he would be the first back taken in the draft "he won't be this year" and the difference in pay day he said would be huge. The only kicker is the possibility of getting hurt so he feels leaving is going to be what happens.

re: Spoke with an NFL scout regarding early departures today.(Posted by Mudflap007 on 10/21/13 at 6:00 pm to Dudebro2)

Thanks for sharing. It's basically what it looks like from a fan perspective, but it's good to here the scouts don't have a totally different view. I will always wonder what happened to make all those guys bolt.

re: Spoke with an NFL scout regarding early departures today.(Posted by higgins on 10/21/13 at 6:01 pm to TigerBait1127)

Painting with a broad brush, but when these guys think about "they tweny-fo's, bling, makin it rain", it's hard to convince them otherwise. Guys like Freak are obviously not ready. Problem is, he is a "freak". He looks good in nike dri-fit and will prob have good combine #'s. He'll be convinced by blood sucking scouts that he has "it", and now is the time to strike. One thing these guys need to process, in the NFL, only sign on bonuses are guaranteed. They can cut your arse at any time.